Convertible automobile body construction



L. BRESIN. CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY CONSTRUCTION. APPucATmN msn sans, 1919.

1,413,704. menaApn 25, 1922i man Emis resin A TTUHNE Y .trans-r .Louis Bansin, or NEWYOBK, Y., Assermafro'einer/rs-wiririieiasfifiArr'irrec'rnizr .me coePoaATroNyor New YORK, iv. Y., e; oonioaarion or NEW YORK.

CONVERTIBLE AUTQMOBILE 'BODY oolvs'ritirorrolv. V

i Application filed September f1 'o all whom t may concern: Y

Be it known that l, vLouis BRESIN, a citizen of Russia, and residentof New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York Vand State oi' New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Automobile Body Constructions, of which the following is a specification.

T his invention isV an improvement in that instance, as shown in the' Williams applica- Y tion, Serial No. 71,516, filed January l1, 1916, the panels have rigid frames, transparent panes, and depending lugs adapted to enter and be clamped in sockets provided in the body wall sections.

One object of my invention is to avoid the use of these sockets in the body wall sections, which under some circumstances may become filled with dust and dirt. A further Y object is to provide a clamping mechanism including a cam easily operable through a. comparatively short range to clamping or releasing position instead ot a screw which is harder to tighten or loosen; A further objectis to avoid the use of lugs or other projecting parts on the panel and to provide clamping members which will engagein recesses or apertures in the 'frame of the panel. A :further object is to so construct the panel frame and clamps that the frame mayV seat entirely concealed from the exterior when in use. A further object is to provide a clamp which will present no. projecting parts or recesses when the panel is removed and the clamp is not in use. AV further object is to vprovide means whereby the panel may be clamped in anyY desired tilted position and the angle of tilt readily adjusted at any time. A further object .is to provide a cam-operating means for the clamp which will lock the clamp member in either of two limiting positions and prevent loosenessfor rattling when the panel is in position or when removed. A further obj ect is to provide suitable operative adjustment between theclamp. member and `Specification of Letters iPatent. /Patfggd 5, '11919. serial no. 321,790.

the cam 4so that less accuracy :is needed :in

construction and installation 'and wear, variations in metal thickness, carelessness V'in workmanship, etc., kmay Abe easily com-pensatedv for. Y Y

I have illustrated fone'form of my invention in. the accompanying ldrawings,-'in whichr i of a vehicle body showing the panel-s in' posi'- tion and the dooropen; v

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken for `instance on the line 2-2 of Figure 1`. l Figure `3 is a horizontal section on "the line 2*3 of Figure 2, and y v Figure 4L is a section `similartoFigtue 3A .but showing the panel removed. Y

I have shown my invention as applied toa Figure lis a perspective view cfa portion-'4 vehicle body having one or more stationary wall sections 10, and one or more movable wall sections 1l, hinged to serve as doors. The' wall sections carryupanels'lQ land 13,- each having a glass pane 14, and a rigid metal iframe l5. l The upper edges oftlepanels' are designed to enga-ge with the top of 'the vehicle. I'have illustrated only a portion 'of such top inthe formloic an angle iron or channel '16 which may constitute a side bow of a collapsible top, such' vfor instance asis shown iu my Patent 1,294,038 issued February l1, 1.919, or which may be a part of a permanent or removable rigidV top. VAs the upper edges orrv the panels carried by the stationary wall sections of the vehicle may engage in "orv be' suitably secured to the top of the vehicle, it is not as essential to have the rigid type of 'clamping means at the'lower edge asv it is at Y l the lower edges of the panels carried by the directly on the wall and the clamps will be movable wall sections serving'as doors. Obt' viously in opening the door'the upper edge of the panel must leave theA frame of the top and when the door is open the panel must'be supportedsolely at its lower-edge and entirely by the door. In other words, my in# vention may be employed in connection with the panels for the stationary wall sections as well asfor the doors but isparticularly adapted for thelatter. v 1

The clamping" means -may be incorporated in the frame of the wall section at tlie time the body is built or thefsheet metal covering of Athe wall section may be temporarily removed andvreplaced after the mechanismhas been secured withinsockets out in the frame` ico Y The clamps may be installed in separate molding strips adapted to be secured to the upper edges of the wall sectionsl of vehicle bodies previously completed or already in use.

The frame ot the panel in connection with Which I have illustrated Vmy invention includes inner and outer sheet metal walls 1.6 and 17 spaced apart to al distance slightly greater than the thickness of the glass of the panel. Between these two walls I insert a block or metal plate of such thickness as to snuglylit between the two sheet metal walls and secure it in place in any suitable manner, as for instance, by soldering, pressing, electric welding, or by rivets or screws. There are preferably provided two oi'' these blocks or plates and one adjacent to each. corner in the lower member of the frame and each has a recess 19 therein extending up from the open lower end and present-ingl hevelled or inclined walls converging toward the sheet metal wall 16. The latter has an opening in the side thereoi corresponding to and registering with the narrow side ol' this recess.

.The body wall ot the vehicle has the usual wooden frame 2O which may be covered by an outer layer oi'i comparatively thin sheet metal 21. rlllie wall .is shown as so formed as to present a substanf .tially horizontal seat or ledge portion 22,

and an upstanding flange or ridge portion 23 between the seat and the inner surface of vthe wall sections. This `flange or ridge portion presents a substantially vertical side 24C which is substantially at right angles to the seat or ledge 22. TWhen the invention is to be incorporated in a vehicle body at the time the latter is built, the portion projecting above the seat 22 is termed as an integral part or' the iframe of the door, but if the invention is to he applied to a vehicle wall sect-ion already completed. the upstanding flange or ridge portion mayy be a separate strip secured to the ipper edge or' the'wall section and oli less vidih than the latter so as to leave exposed a portion of the upper surface oit the wall section to present the seat or led ge 22.

At points along the length oic the l'lange portion 23 corresponding to the positions ot the recesses 23 in the panehl provide ciamp-- ing` members 25 adapted to enter the rccesses 19. Eachv clamping meuil'ier ot e forni corresponding to that oi the recess that is, it has a head portion oit thicknc slightly less than the thickness oit the blo-ck or plate 1S and oi such a'width and with such bevelled edges that may slide up into the recesses but cannot-be pulled horizontally out through the sideV oit the latter. In other words, the maximum width et the head of the clamp 25 is wider than the miniiniiin'widtli of' the recesses. .The clamping member .is so positioned that it may project out i'rom the wall 24 and. the panel mayV be lowered. vinto position with. the recesses slipping over the clamps until theV panel seatsV lug ...ne cani inem* lier is o': .such icorin that it may hold the .clamping member iii any one oi" three positions. .lt has a face nearest to the pivot connecting the cani member and the link and so rmed that when this face clivages with the inner surface oft the wall, the clump will project beyond the wall and will permit the loose slidiiio' off the panel into position. llie cani also presents a surface 29 which a slightly greater distance from the pivot tlan is the surface 26 so that when the `cani member moved to the position indicated l iii Figure 3l. the cli -in will. he drawn .in to i'] 'yi v hold me panel rigidi.t in position. ihe cani member also presents a third il'ace il() oppd sitoto the tace 29 that when the cam niem- .bor is swung in the opposite direction to .bring` the surface 30 into operation, .thel link will he pulled through to the maximum posilllhen in this position it enters a reined in tli'enside of the wall 24e and the outer surface of the clamp lies substanu flush with the outer surface oit the w il 24'; indicated in Figure 4i.

prevent wear and to give the necessai backing to the cam when in its clamp iig' positions.` l preferably embed a reentorciiig st ip o'lE metal 32 in the wood iframe in the olf the outer thin sheet metal covering 2l and also provide washer or other dist:

member tor direct eneagement with the cam faces and encircling the link 26.

To permit of the .desired adjustment and also the inclination or tilting of the panel,

.the link 26 is preferably made 'of three sections 34-, 35, and 36. Two of these sections, toiy instance, 34 and. 35 are pivotally connected so that the head of the clamp may swing to a vlimited extent in a vertical position and accommodate itselt to the slot or recess of the panel even though the latter be tilted to lie at a few degrees'off the right angleto the general direction of the link. Two of the links, for instance, 35 and 36 are threaded together so that the total effective length of the link may be varied at will. In assembling, thelink section 36 maybe rotated in respect to the planes of the link and the clamp so as to increase or decrease'the total effective length and cause the .clamp to come to proper operative position when the cam is moved to its limiting positions. The difference in distance from the pivot of the cam to the face 29 and to the face 30 should be such that when the cam is in the position shown in Figure 8 it will tightly` clamp the panel and when inthe position shown in Figure 4 it will equally tightly hold the clamp in the recess-2l and prevent any rattling of the parts. Although the wallwardly to give the panel the desired tilt. It

will also be evident that spacers may beinserted between the panel and either the upper edge or the lower edge Vof the wall 24' to vary the tilt in either direction after the device is installed. A simple and effective means for varying this tilting is a pair of screws 37 extending into the wall 24 close to theflower edge of the latter. The heads'of these screws may be slightly rounded so as to project out'- wardly va slight extent from the plane of the wall 24 on each side of the clamp. By means of av screw driver these screws may be adjusted to vary the extent to which their heads project. In placing the panel in position it will engage with the heads andv with the upper edge of the wall 24, so that said'heads and said'edge constitute stops or abutments on opposite sides of the clamp. Due to the comparatively short distance between the screw heads and the upper edge, the comparatively slightvv adjustment of the screw heads will give a very much greater adjust"l ment of the upper edge ofthe panel and cause it to bind to any desired degree against the frame of the top when thedoor is closed and thus prevent rattling. It will of course be evident that the screws might be near the upper edge of the wall 24 softhat the panel would seat against their headsand against the lower edge vofthe wall in case itis desired to vary the tilt outwardly. The pivotal connection in the vlink between the cam and the clamp head permitsthe-headto automatically adjust itself to the inclination of the panel. Both the adjustable length and the pivotal features of the link may be omitted where the devices are being manufactured in quantity, of uniform size forthe same type of car but these features are'particularly important where the device is made up in quantity for use with a wide variety of cars. y

It will be noted that the clamp receiving slot of the frame extends upwardly vfrom the lower edge of the spacing plate 18 andthe inner side wall 16' but that there i's'no*l corresponding slot in the upper wall 17. vThus the clamping head is entirely concealed when the panel is in position. It will of course be evident that there might be -a corresponding slot in the l.wall 17 and that thek head might come all the-way through the frameV and engage with the outer surfaces of the latter. .Y With myimproved constructiomthepanel is effectively held in position even though the` cams should accidentlywork loose or fail to` holdV properly. With the panel in position,

it cannot move downwardly byreason of itsengagement withk the4 ledge or seat 22 and cannot'move outwardly to any material eX- tent as the cam evenwhen in released posi` tion permits only a limited outward movement of the clamping head. Thus when the lpanel is in position it cannot fall Vofi' even though the clamps are not secured and can be removed only by lifting it vertically until the clamping `heads come out of the slots.

l Having thus' describedmy invention what I Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:- W j 1'. A vehicle body wall presenting a substantially horizontal ledge and a substanJ tia'llyA vertical. .surface adjacent tol the Vupper edge oft-.he wall,z a. removable panel seated on and supported by said ledgeA and adapted to extend from said wall to the top of the vehicle, the lower edge of said panel being laterally movable toward andV from said surface, and means carried-by said ledge for forcing said panel laterally against. said surface and holding it in position, said panel when in place entirely' concealing from view the louter portion of said means.

2. A'vehicle body wall presenting a ledge and` a substantially vertical surface adjacent thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, a removable panel seating cn'said ledge and having al vertical slot in its lower'edge, and a'member enteringsaid slot upon the lower ing ofthe panel toward4 said ledge and longitudinally adjust-ableforv clamping said panel against said surface.'

3.' A.` vehicle body wall. presenting a ledge and a substantially vertical'sur-face extend! ingupwardly therefrom, aremovable panel seating on said' led-ge, means for varying the angle ofthe panel in respect rto said verticalI surface, and a' clamping member engaging-with said panel and extending substanti'ally horizontally through said yvertical 'surface tothe opposite surface of the wall.

4. A'vehicle body havingY a substantially vertical surface, a removable panel engaging y with said surface andhaving afsl'ot extending into its loweredgefand a clamping member'having a head portion engaging with said slot, and a body portion extending through said slot and said wall substantially horizontally. k I

V5. In combination a vehicle body wall, la clamp member'adapted `to project from-one vertical surface ofrsaid wall, apanel Vhaving a slot extending upwardly intoits lower edge, into which said clamp member may enter upon thelowering of the panel into position, said clamp member having a head portion wider than a portion of said slot, and means on the opposite surface of said wall for drawing` said clamp member toward said first mentioned surface to clamp said panel against the latter.

6. ln combination, a vehicle body wall, a clamp member adapted to .project from the outer vertical surface of said wall, a panel adapted to be supported by said wall and 'extend vertically therefrom and having a recess adjacent to its lower edge and into which said clamp member may enter, and a cam` on'the opposite Isur'f".ace ot said wall ior drawing said clamp member toward said iirst mentioned surface to clamp said panel.

7. A vehicle body wall, a removable panel adapted to entend vertically therefrom to the vehicle top, a member having a clamping head adapted to engage with said panel adjacent to the lower edge ot the latter, and a portion projecting through said. wall, and means on the inner end thereof for drawing said head into clamping engagement with said panel.

8. A vehicle body wall, aremovable panel, a member having a clamping head adapted to engage with said panel adjaeentto the lower edge ot the latter, and a portion of adjustable length projecting through said wall, and means on the inner end thereof for drawing said head into clamping enn gagement with said panel.

9. A vehicle body wall, a removable panel, a member having a clamping head adapted to engage with said panel adjacent to the lower edge of the latter and a portion of adjustable length projecting` through said wall, and a cam on the inner end thereof for drawing said head into clamping engagement with said panel.

l0. ln combination, a vehicle body wall, a removable panel having its lower edge portion engaging with the upper edge portion of. said wall, and clamping mechanism carried by said wall and including a head engaging with said panel, a link extending horizontally through said wall, and means at the inner ends of said link for drawing the latter endwise, and holding said head in clamping engagement with said panel.

ll. In combination, a vehicle body wall, a removable panel having its lower edge portion engaging with the upper edge portion oi. said wall, and clamping mechanism including a head engaging with said panel, a link including two pivotally connected sections extending through said wall, and means at the inner ends of said link tor drawing the latter endwise and holding Vsaid slot in clamping engagement with said panel,

l2.. .ln combination, a vehicle body wall, a removable .panel having its lower edge portion engaging with the upper edge portion of said wall, and clamping mechanism including a head engaging with said panel, a link including two pivotally connected seci tions extending through said wall, and a cam at the inner ends ot said link for drawing the latter endwise and holding said Vslot in clamping engagement with said panel.

i3. ln combination, a vehicle body wall,

a ren'iovable panel having its lower edge portion adapted to engage with the upperV a removable panel adapted to extend ironi said wall to the vehicle top and having a slot in, its lower edge, a clamp member carried by said wall and means for locking said panel to said wall with said member in said panel slot, or for retaining said member in said wall recess when the panel is removed..

l5. A vehicle body wall having a recess, a removable panel having a recess, a clamping member, and a cam for locking said panel. to said wall with said member in said panel recess or for retaining said member in said wall recess when the panel is removed. 16. ln combination, a vehicle body wall, a panel, a clamping member for securing said panel to said wall, and a cam connected to said clamping member and having an operating portion for locking said member in one position` with said panel secured in place, and a second operating portion for with said panel. removed.

' 1.7. ln combination, a vehicle body wall, a panel, a clamping member for securing said panel to said wall, and a cam connected to said clamping member and having an operating portion for lockingsaid member in one position with said panel secured in place, and a second operating portion for locking said member in the second position with said panelv removed, and a third operating portion for holding said clamping member in a third position permitting the attachment or removal of the panel. Y

18. A vehicle body wall, presenting a substantially vertical surface, one edge of which serves as a panel abutment, an jadjustable abutment carried by'said wall and spaced from said edge, a removable vpanel adapted to engage with said abutments, and a clamp carried by said wall and operatively engaglocling said member in a second position ing with said panel intermediate of said abutments, whereby the inclinationV of the panel in respect to the wall may be varied by relative adjustment yof said abutment.

19. A vehicle body wall, having a pair of spaced abutments one of which is adjustable in respect to the other and a clamping member therebetween, and a removable panel held against said abutments byv said clamp whereby the angle of the panel may be varied.

20. A vehicle body wall, having a pair of spaced abutments and a clamping member therebetween, and a removable panel for engagement with said abutments and clamp, one. of said abutments being at a higher elevation than the other and one of them being adjustable substantially horizontally to vary the inclination of said panel.

- 21. A vehicle body wall, having a pair of tally adjustable to vary the inclination ofl the panel, a clamping device projecting through said wall and having a head for engagement with the said panel intermediate of said abutments, and a pivotal connection to said head permitting a variation of the inclination of the head in accordance with the tilt of the panel.

28. lncombination a vehicle body wall, having a substantially horizontal seat and a vertical surface extendingnpwardly therefrom, a pair of abutments adjacent the lower edge of said surface and adjustable substantially horizontally, a panel adapted to engagel with said surface and rest upon said seat, a. clamping head for engagement with said panel intermediate of said abntments, means upon the inner surface of the wall for holding said clamping head in operative position, and means permitting the auto.

matic adjustment of the angle of said head to accommodate it toA variations in the inclination -of the panel. 24. ln combination, a Vehicle .body wall, a removablev panel, having a fra-me including tivo spaced substantially,parallel sheet metal walls, a spacing plate therebetween, ysaid plateand at least oneof said sheet metal walls having registering slots extending up from the lower edge thereof, a clamping member carried by said body adapted to enter said slots upon, the lowering of the panel into position on said wall, and means for forcing said clamping membe-r endwise to clamp said panel to said body wall.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and Stateof New York, this 3rd day of September, A. D. 1919. i

LOUIS BRESIN. 

